Looking for better ways to increase the water pressure in the shower?
You come home from a hectic day at work, or you are coming home from a tough day at a gym.
Either way, the first thing to come to mind instantly is getting a good and sound shower to take off all the stress or clear up from the sweat.
But as soon as you reach your bathroom, open your shower and realize that the pressure is just like drops of water pouring out.
You get even more stressed out thinking about what to do next. But you might also think of how to increase the water pressure still you didn’t know enough ways to do so. But you don’t need to worry about that.
We are here to guide you entirely on ways to increase the shower’s water pressure.
A Quick Way to Increase Water Pressure in Shower
- Unscrew the showerhead and eliminate dirt particles or minerals from it.
- Remove the flow restrictor and check the water flow again from your showerhead.
- Check the water valve; if it is closed, open it immediately to start the water flow.
- Examine all the pipes thoroughly for any fall of water. The low water pressure may be because of leakage of water.
- If you have installed a low-pressure showerhead, the water pressure will surely be low.
- Install a new power shower to increase water pressure.
- Boost the water pressure in your showerhead with a shower pump.
- Check the water pressure during off-peak hours. You will get a high flow of water at that time.
Common Causes of Low Water Pressure
But before diving into methods to increase the shower’s water pressure, let’s take a look into why the water pressure is low before we get into the ways to increase the water pressure.
Plumbing System
One of the common causes of low pressure in the shower is the blockage or leakage of the house’s plumbing system, so you may contact your local plumber asap to further know about your house’s plumbing system.
Old Pipes
The second reason or cause related to low pressure in the shower might be that the piping in your area is either too old or damaged.
Low Flow Showerhead
This is also one of the various causes of the water running low in your shower. Different companies making shower heads with different heights and designs.
Some of the manufacturing of the showerhead is made in a way that contradicts heavy flow showers.
Mineral Deposits
Many mineral deposits get stuck between the shower’s tiny holes, making it clogged.
Other than that, the dust or dirt particles, if not appropriately maintained, also get between the small holes blocking the water and making the water pressure disturbed and low.
Closed Valve
As there are many valves in the house’s plumbing system if any of the valves are partially closed, it may also cause the valves to be blocked and lead to low water pressure in the shower.
If that is the case, replacing the valve is the best possible solution. In this way, chances are water pressure in the shower will be restored to its maximum.
Heating Issue
If the water pressure is running low only when you use hot water or the hot water taps, You must consider checking your water heater as this is a sign of an issue related to the water heater. Consider contacting a plumber to fix it.
Leakage or Corroded Pipes
One of the common causes of the water pressure being low in the house is the leakage of the pipes. It usually occurs because the pipes are either too old or the metal inside them is full of rust.
So, it’s crucial to fix this issue as it may further cause problems with your plumbing system of the house.
Single Handle Water Control
Single handle volume control systems are difficult to repair and cause low water pressure if damaged or rusted from the inside.
So, these are some possible reasons for water pressure to be running low, to begin with how to increase the water pressure of the shower.
Things Required to Increase Shower Water Pressure
For increasing water pressure, you require:
- A jug (preferably 1 liter)
- A stopwatch/timer
- A calculator
How to Measure Water Pressure of Shower
The force with which water pours from your faucets is determined by the water pressure.
High pressure might damage your pipes, while low pressure limits the flow of water in your shower, faucets, and other water-based appliances.
To measure the water pressure, you are required to do the following steps:
1. Turning the Water Sources Off
The first thing you need to do is to switch any water sources, taps, washing machines, or any other source entirely off, So that it may not disturb the flow of water while checking.
2. Putting the Jug Under the Shower or Measuring Source
After switching the water sources off, it would be better to place the 1 liter of jug under the water source you want to check from.
3. Turning Water Source On
Now it is best to switch on the shower and ensure it is entirely on.
4. Starting the Stopwatch On
As soon as you have turned the tap on, make sure at the same time you should start your stopwatch for this to be accurately measured.
5. Calculating the Average
This step is done by letting the water flow into the jug until the timer on the stopwatch reaches 6 seconds.
If the jug does not fill within 6 seconds, low water pressure is a must problem. Ideally, the water flow pressure must be around 10 liters/minute.
Guide on How to Increase Water Pressure of Shower
Lets see how you can increase the water pressure of the shower:
1. Cleaning the Showerhead
When you feel low water flow in the showerhead, you must unscrew the showerhead. As with time, the shower heads can be clogged with minerals and other particles of dirt.
So, to clean a showerhead, you must first unscrew the showerhead and clean it from the inside. It would be best if you use a toothbrush and a toothpick to unclog the points in the showerhead.
After completing this procedure, You should screw the showerhead back to its place, and you may see that the water flow is back to normal. Then you’ve achieved your desired result.
Pro Tips
- If you feel there is visible dirt and minerals on the showerhead
- Try soaking the showerhead in white vinegar for approx. 8hrs
- If you see some grease on the showerhead use a drain cleaner.
2. Flow Restrictor
Showerheads come with flow restrictors as well. These are placed inside the showerhead to restrict the flow, but they may sometimes make the shower’s water pressure really low.
You need to remove the flow restrictor by unscrewing it simply Or taking it out with the help of a small screwdriver. And then place the shower back to check if the water flow pressure is normal again.
3. Water Valve Check
If you’ve shifted to a new home or have been recently going through some plumbing work at home, there is a chance that the water valve might be closed or shut off entirely by the plumbers or workers.
So, if this is a must point to keep in mind to check for the main water valve to see if it is shut off or not.
4. Leakage of Pipes
If you have leaking pipes, that’ll also reduce the shower’s water pressure and other sources.
So, make sure you check the leakage of pipes or have a plumber by your side to let him check the pipes so that the water pressure may fall back to normal.
5. Buying a Low-Pressure Shower Head
This low pressure is a convenient shower head that increases the water pressure flow. You can use this in place of the showerhead that is causing trouble with low water pressure.
6. Power Shower
One of the better solutions to increase the water pressure is to install a power shower. A power shower uses both cold and hot water, but you must have plenty of hot water already available in the tank.
A shower pump and a power shower work almost in a similar manner. They both have pumps installed inside to boost the water pressure.
7. Shower Pump
A shower pump is a great water flow boosting machine. That is a bit higher in price than the low-pressure shower head but quite handy when increasing the water pressure.
And in case you are out of options to increase the water pressure flow, This option is sure to consider. You may further consult your local plumber for the installation process.
8. Off-Peak Hour Showers
Are you running out of options? Just consider taking a shower during the off-peak hours if you can’t find possible ways to increase the water flow.
An Important Point to Consider
If you are running low on water pressure, try turning off other multiple appliances that may be using water.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Make My Water Pressure Stronger?
If you want increased water pressure in your shower, you have to clear the clog and check the main water valve. Besides this, also make sure that there is no water leakage reported for the stronger water pressure.
What Causes Poor Water Pressure in the Shower?
The leaking showerhead, closed valve, clogged pipes, or damaged water heater are the major causes of poor water pressure in any shower. You have to figure out the exact reason and fix the problem for the right pressure in your shower.
What Do I Do if My Shower Has Low Water Pressure?
If you are facing lower water pressure in any shower, then you must remember the following hacks and use them according to the situation:
- Unclog the showerhead
- Install a pump with your shower
- Clean your shower cap and pipe
- Fix all the leakages
- Replace the damaged showerhead
- Examine the main water valve
Do Shower Heads Affect Water Pressure?
Yes, the shower head affects the water pressure to a greater extent. You can increase this pressure by cleaning it in the right way. Some powerful showers are also available, which can be utilized according to your needs.
What is the Best Shower Head to Increase Water Pressure?
The best shower head to increase the water pressure is the Voolan High-Pressure Showerhead. It will increase the flow of water without unplugging the existing setup.
Conclusion
Running low on water pressure might be a really stressful situation to be in, especially when there is a need to take shower.
We’ve provided you with the relevant information that will ease up your stress in this situation. I hope that this article has helped you in ways to increase the water pressure!
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